This cane or walking stick has a brass ferrule, an ebonized, bentwood mahogany shaft and a hand inlaid sterling silver topper. It opens to reveal a match safe.
So called after the name of one of the early makers (which was taken from the goddess Vesta, a Roman deity of fire and the hearth), they came into use around the 1830s and were produced extensively between 1890 and 1920. During this period, almost everyone carried strike anywhere matches, so they could light stoves, lanterns and other devices. Early matches were unreliable and prone to ignite from rubbing on one another or spontaneously. Accordingly, most people carried a match safe to house their matches. Wealthy people had match safes made of gold or silver, while common folk had ones made of tin or brass.

Weight (Lbs): 0.5
Height (In.): 35"
Width (In.): 4.75
Depth (In.): 1
Size: 380.5 x 4.0 x 4.0"
Maker: Unknown
Material: Mahogany, Silver
Date: C. 1900.
Provenance:
Condition: Light rubbing to varnish, expected notches. Mild tarnish
History: Canes were a popular accessory to the fashion minded far more than as an actual ambulatory aid during the 18th and 19th Centuries, dying out as a stable by the early 20th Century. Interestingly, the size of the ferrule, the metal cap on the base of a cane, is a fairly accurate measure of dating the cane, as by the 18th century, it began to shorten with the advent of maintained road systems and paved paths.